EL PASO, Texas – The New Mexico State volleyball team (14-7, 8-1 WAC) took their winning ways south of Las Cruces as they beat UTEP (6-16, 0-8 C-USA) 3-1 in El Paso, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Senior middle hitter Amber Simpson (Quincy, Ill.) led the way for NMSU with 11 kills while adding four total blocks on the night. Senior Krystal Torres (Las Cruces, N.M.) ended the night with a match-high 15 digs, and senior Lindsey Yon (San Antonio, Texas) added eight kills.
“They are senior leaders and they are great players, and we expect that from them,” head coach Mike Jordan said. “They understand the importance of their role on the team and they are doing great job both offensively and defensively.”
Senior Alyssa Gintant (Libertyville, Ill.) assisted her fellow seniors to help NMSU to a .275 hitting percentage on the night, while the Miners hit .088. Gintant, who leads the Aggies in assists with 357 on the year, marked 24 against the Miners. NMSU continued to enjoy defense at the net with eight team blocks on the evening.
“We sided out really well, we’re a very good ball handling team and we’re a lot more physical than UTEP,” Jordan said.
The Miners kept set one close tying it up five times before the Aggies went on a small point run. Up 10-8, the Aggies got a kill from Simpson, one from sophomore outside hitter Whitney Woods (Midland, Texas) and an attack error from UTEP to take a five point lead. NMSU would eventually go by 10 during a six point scoring rally that included another kill from Simpson and Woods. The Aggies took set one 25-15 with Simpson coming up with a set-high five kills, while Woods and junior Krista Altermatt (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) added three kills each.
Simpson kept the offensive attack on as she took helped give NMSU an early 4-1 lead in set one. After the Miners pulled to within two points at 6-4, NMSU went on a 5-2 point run to go up 11-6. A kill from junior outside hitter Kelli Goodan (Des Moines, N.M), another kill from Woods and a double block by the Aggie defenders gave NMSU a 22-13 lead before winning set No. 2 by the score of 25-14. Yon stepped up her play in the second set and slammed down a set-high five kills while digging up four balls.
The Aggies dug deep into their bench and won quite easily. With leadership and youth combined, NMSU took out the Miners in the third set 25-15.
NMSU will head back into conference play when it takes on Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Oct. 25 in Ruston, La. Match time is set for 6:00 p.m. (MST) and live stats will be available on NMSU’s website at www.NMStateSports.com.
Courtesy: Richard Chavez
